I want to make a trip up north for some clear water smallmouth...the big ones. Can be anywhere really.
Looking for recommendations on guides, lodging and the best time/month to go in

Thanks

We leave in 33 days for Traverse Bay, Michigan. www.northernadventuresfishing.com
Our guide is Captain Chris Noffsinger. They say the heaviest they get is right now until mid June. I believe Captain Chris had his first 6lber on Saturday. I will report back after our trip.

Lotta different destinations from Maine to Washington and north of the border.

The Great Lakes system offers some really great fishing for numbers and size.

Here's some interesting reading:

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/Canadian-Record-Broken-Using-Berkley-Baits-And-Line/Berkley-news-canadian-record-broken-using-berkley-baits-and-line,default,pg.html

PM if you want some info on Maine. I have set other TFF'ers up with a friend guide out of Bangor who is very reasonable.

I'll tell ya about it when I get back from there in June too.
We're heading up to Indian River on June 6 and going to stay for a week and a half. Gonna fish Burt and Mullett where supposedly the brown fish get BIG!

Traverse City, right now.

I actually grew up in Traverse City and moved to the DFW area almost 2 years ago due to work. There are multiple lakes in the Traverse City area that hold big smallmouth. There are also some big northern pike (up to 40") in that area too.

When they film fishing shows in Traverse City they tend to fish East Grand Traverse Bay (When looking at a map of Traverse City there is a big peninsula that goes out that divides West & East Grand Traverse Bay. The southern end of East Bay is crystal clear and the smallmouth roam that area in 8-12' of water. Other good lakes in the area for big smallmouth include Elk Lake (which is a part of the Chain of Lakes which includes several good lakes that are all connected), Lake Leelanau, and Green Lake to name a few.

PM replied to TxDuckhunter

went last year with Noffsinger 1st weekend of July. It was great trip 55 fish in 6hr best 5 was bumping 25lb He was knowledgeable and all high dollar equipment. I will use him again without hesitation.

Awesome. I think my 17yr old son is more pumped than all of us. He's never caught a brownie. What was avg size? I love to see 'em jump in that clear water.

Sturgeon bay WI. NOW. It's your best shot at 6lber in the country.

I think he is on here but I don't know what his screen name is....

http://www.marcelsguideservice.com/

Call Art Ferguson www.artoffishing.com He is a Kistler Pro Staff and guides on St. Claire. He has been guiding up there for 25yrs. I caught a 6.1lbs. with him last year. We caught 151 in two days. We used his clicker to keep count. The are smoking them this year.